How to Answer Common Interview Questions: A Cheat Sheet

After sending out countless cover letters and resumes, you’re starting to line up interviews. If you’re in a full-force job hunt, you may find yourself speaking with multiple companies within a week—all at different stages in the interview process.

No matter how much experience you may have interviewing, each hiring manager deserves to meet with a well-prepared candidate. Here are four common interview questions you should start preparing for now if you want to land your next job.

Common Interview Questions to Prepare for

1. “Tell Me About Yourself.”

Although technically not a question, it's a common opening line. This prompt roughly translates to, “What’s your story?” and your response can set the tone for the entire interview. Here’s how you can make your story a best seller:

Consider Your Audience: Research a company in advance to assess their culture and determine which details are most relevant to share.

Create an Outline: Avoid losing your audience by creating an easy-to-follow storyline. Focus on having a beginning, middle, and end. Consider using the template below to get started:

Present: Where are you right now?

“I’m currently a Business Analyst for…”

“I work on…”

“I enjoy…”

Past: What brought you to this point?

“I previously worked as…”

“I studied…”

“I decided to transition because…”

Future: Where are you trying to go?

“Now that I have experience in…”

“After completing my degree…”

“I'm eager to work on…”

Practice, Practice, Practice: The goal is not to memorize a script, but rather to familiarize yourself with your own highlight reel. Play with the order of the template depending on the biggest selling points of your experience. People typically remember the first and last thing they hear, so prioritize accordingly and keep it concise. A 30- to 60-second response is best.

Why Is This Question Important? It's a great foundation for other common job-seeking scenarios, such as explaining why you're leaving your current role, an elevator pitch at a networking event, or as an outline for a cover letter.

2. "What Is One of Your Strengths?"

As tempting as it may be to list every buzzword possible, interviewers will have heard them all. Leave a lasting impression with an anecdotal response that demonstrates the skills they’re looking for in a candidate. For example: “I have been known to work well under a tight schedule. In my current role…” You can also use situations from different points in your career.

Keep in mind the tips from the prompt above and use the S.T.A.R Method to structure your response:

Situation: Set the scene

Task: Explain your end goal

Action: Outline the steps you took to achieve your task

Result: Note the result of your action

Why Is This Question Important? Career changers can leverage specific examples to highlight transferable skills. Use the S.T.A.R. Method for any behavioral questions, also known as “Tell Me of a Time” questions. Typical behavioral questions seek examples of leadership, problem-solving, or growth.

3. “What Is One of Your Weaknesses?”

Of course, you don’t want to admit to being anything but the perfect candidate. This is an opportunity to demonstrate how you’ve grown in your career. For instance, you may used to struggle with difficult conversations, but you have since honed your skills through a negotiations course. If you can’t think of a weakness, find someone in your support system whom you trust to be honest with you.

Remember to use a direct example following the S.T.A.R. Method and take control of the narrative with the following tips:

Keep it work-related

Talk about it in a positive light; it's not a weakness, but rather an area of growth

Outline the actions steps taken, or currently being taken, to address it

Why Is This Question Important? The answer to this question can proactively address any missing skills or experience on your resume (for example, taking a course to learn business fundamentals). It will also demonstrate your problem-solving skills and build your confidence.

4. “Do You Have Any Questions for Us?”

This is your opportunity to show interest and determine if the role or company is a good fit. Always have at least one question prepared. If you can’t think of anything to ask, consider pulling questions from the following categories:

Relationship-Building:

Ask the interviewers questions about their roles and experience with the company

Learn more about how much you would interact with your interviewers on the job

Actively listen to what interviewers have to say and ask follow-up questions for clarification

Work Culture:

Learn more about their approach to work/life balance

Inquire about professional development opportunities

Confirm what their performance review process is like

Consider asking for an office tour

The Role:

Understand the history of the role and why it's currently vacant

Learn who you'll report to and ask about their management styles

Study the job posting and highlight any areas you want to discuss in more detail

Consider directly asking about any concerns they may have with your application

The Process:

Inquire about the interview process and how many steps will be involved

Confirm a timeline for their decision and determine if you can follow up in the meantime

Why Is This Question Important? No matter the outcome, the more questions you ask, the more you'll learn about the job market for future reference.

About the Author

Karol V. Gaitán is a nationally certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with training and experience in career coaching and academic support. She has worked with more than 500 job seekers and learners at various stages of their journey over the span of her career. She has worked for the State of Rhode Island, Brown University, General Assembly Boston, and now at Harvard Business School Online as an Accommodations Manager. When she’s not at HBS Online, you might find her digging through a thrift store for a new upcycling project, sharing memes, or eating Buffalo wings.